Outserve Blog

Why F&B Brands Are Losing Margins to Their Tech Stack (And How We're Fixing It)

philip@outserve.co.uk (Philip Oakley) — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:56:02 GMT

Every growing food and beverage founder reaches a tipping point where the pure joy of making a great product collides with the chaotic reality of manufacturing operations.

North West Product & Ecommerce Forum: AI & Automation for Growing Brands

philip@outserve.co.uk (Philip Oakley) — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 15:01:34 GMT

I spend a lot of time in London.

There are some genuinely excellent events there for founders and operators scaling product businesses. The quality of conversation is high. The rooms are ambitious. The insights are practical.

But it raises a fair question:

Why don’t we see more of that calibre of event in the regions — particularly here in the North West?

Why Specialist Ecommerce Accountants Are Essential for Product Based Businesses

Howard Watson — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 11:46:42 GMT

Running a product-based ecommerce business is exciting but behind the scenes, the financial complexity can be overwhelming. Inventory management, multi-channel sales, VAT compliance, and accurate profitability tracking are just the tip of the iceberg.

Ecommerce COGS Explained: A Complete Guide to Cost Flow Methods

philip@outserve.co.uk (Philip Oakley) — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 18:20:07 GMT

Ecommerce COGS Explained: A Complete Guide to Cost Flow Methods

TLDR

If you sell products online, choosing the right stock valuation method is essential for accurate ecommerce COGS (Cost of Goods Sold), clean margins, and confident decision-making. In this guide, Philip Oakley from Outserve explains FIFO, LIFO, and Weighted Average, and why consistency is critical for ecommerce accounting. For most brands using Xero, Unleashed, Shopify, Amazon, and A2X, Weighted Average is often the most automated, scalable, and accurate method.

Why the Feel Good Summit Should Be on Every Challenger Brand’s Radar

philip@outserve.co.uk (Philip Oakley) — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 16:08:27 GMT

📍 London, October 9th 2025

🎟️ Use code PARTNER15 for discounted tickets

In the world of challenger brands, building momentum means more than great packaging and a punchy Instagram strategy. It means having the right data, systems, and support to help you scale smart — especially when it comes to launching in retail.

How Incoterms Impact Your Inventory and Accounting in Xero and Unleashed

jay@outserve.co.uk (Jay Mann) — Fri, 30 May 2025 11:03:28 GMT

By Jay Mann

Incoterms, short for International Commercial Terms, are essentially a set of predefined terms widely used in international and domestic trade to clearly outline ownerships, responsibilities and risks associated with the transport and delivery of goods. These can have significant negative impacts on the integrity of data in your Xero and Unleashed systems if these are neglected.

Why You Need to Be at the Foodservice Summit 2025: Unlocking Growth & Profitability in Foodservice

philip@outserve.co.uk (Philip Oakley) — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:48:22 GMT

The Foodservice Summit 2025 is just around the corner, and this year promises to be bigger, better, and packed with more opportunities than ever before. Taking place on March 18th at The Mermaid, London, this event is a must-attend for challenger brands looking to break into or scale within the foodservice industry.

Expanding into the foodservice sector presents a significant yet often overlooked opportunity for brands aiming to scale. The UK's foodservice industry is a dynamic and expansive market, encompassing a diverse range of establishments such as hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, pubs, bars, catering services, and institutional providers like schools and hospitals. Collectively, these sectors contribute substantially to the economy, with the foodservice profit sector alone projected to reach £120 billion by 2028 according to GlobeNewswire

Despite its size and growth potential, many brands hesitate to venture into foodservice, often due to perceived complexities or a focus on traditional retail channels. However, engaging with this sector can unlock new revenue streams, enhance brand visibility, and provide access to a broad customer base across various dining and hospitality venues.

Unlock Retail Success in 2025: Join Our Expert Panel on 11th February

philip@outserve.co.uk (Philip Oakley) — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 16:46:13 GMT

As we step into 2025, the retail landscape is evolving faster than ever, presenting both challenges and opportunities for businesses. To help retailers stay ahead, we’re excited to announce an exclusive online event on 11th February: 4 Key Strategies to Boost Retail Profits in 2025.

Understanding Changes to Amazon FBA’s Inventory Reimbursement Policy

philip@outserve.co.uk (Philip Oakley) — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 09:13:47 GMT

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read) summary:

Amazon’s recent changes to its FBA lost and damaged inventory reimbursement policy for UK sellers includes a shorter time frame for claims and adjustments to reimbursement value calculations based on "fair market value." Sellers must submit claims before 7th January 2025 to take advantage of the current 18-month lookback period. Acting now is critical to safeguard your profits.

Get your free Amazon FBA Audit to ensure you are not missing out

Inventory forecasting and planning made easy

philip@outserve.co.uk (Philip Oakley) — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 13:51:02 GMT

If you run a small to medium product-driven business and have trouble figuring out the best way to purchase stock and manage your inventory - this one’s for you.